In search of happiness....

Happiness! A word that can create hope & hopelessness in you depending on your state of mind.

I remember a beautiful explanation by Sister Shivani in this context.

A man says to himself, “I will be happy when I buy a new luxury car.” He buys one, sits in the car observing classic interiors, feeling comfort of cushioned seats, smiling in the cool breeze of air-conditioner, and thinks, “Wow. That is real happiness. I am a happy man now.” After a few moments, he receives a call from a relative telling about some bad incident happened in family. The same man, sitting in the same comfortable car, is not happy anymore.

Was it the car that gave him happiness? If it was the car, then he should have been able to be happy even after hearing the bad news. Does that mean his thoughts of being happy after getting the car was false? YES!

Today, we have started to buy happiness….our list never ends….and happiness never comes.

Material things can make us comfortable & help us be more productive. But they can’t give us happiness.

So, what is it that can make me happy? My inner self. My decision to stay happy irrespective of circumstances. My thoughts to be peaceful.

Happiness is not a series of joyful events. It’s the sense of peace & contentedness. Happiness is a combination of how satisfied you are with your life & how you feel on a day-to-day basis.

Image Source : Internet

You have the ability to control how you feel & with consistent practice, you can form life-long habits for a more satisfying & fulfilling life.
Here are some tips on enhancing this ability :

1. Enjoy this moment. Be mindful & notice good things around you, try to make the pleasurable experience last for as long as possible.
2. Be grateful. Appreciating what we have is the key to happiness. It fills us with optimism & self-confidence. Practice of gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25%.
3. Have a goal/dream. Setting goals & believing that they are achievable promotes optimism & happiness. Having a sense of purpose & creating meaning in life contributes to happiness of a person.
4. Give. It is said that by giving, the giver, not the receiver reaps even more benefits.
5. Be compassionate. Being compassionate makes us less judgmental, less frustrated, and more patient. We listen to others, our relationships improve. It increases a sense of well-being & happiness.

In words of the Dalai Lama, happiness is not something ready made, it comes from your actions. Choose happiness today.